EDWARDS, Calif (Diya TV) — Eight people died Monday after a B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California’s Mojave Desert, military officials said.
The aircraft went down at about 11:20 a.m. during a routine test mission at the remote Air Force installation, located roughly 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Officials said the crash left no survivors and launched a large-scale recovery operation.
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress carried eight people when it crashed. The group included military personnel, government civilians, and contractors. Authorities have not released the identities of those killed because officials are still notifying family members.
“We lost eight great Americans,” Col. James Hayes, deputy commander of the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, said during a news conference Monday evening.
Soon after the crash, emergency crews rushed to the scene. Video from the area showed thick black smoke rising near the airfield. As a result, officials temporarily closed the airfield and diverted incoming flights while first responders worked at the site.
Military officials described the mission as a routine test flight. However, they have not determined what caused the aircraft to go down. Investigators have started a formal review, and officials said the process could take several months. Later Monday, Boeing confirmed that two of its employees were among the eight people aboard the aircraft. The company expressed support for the ongoing investigation and for the families affected by the tragedy.
The crash occurred at Edwards Air Force Base, one of the nation’s most important military testing centers. The base covers more than 300,000 acres across the Mojave Desert and serves as a major hub for aircraft research, development, and flight testing. Over the decades, Edwards has played a key role in aviation history. In 1947, famed test pilot Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier there. The base also supported dozens of NASA Space Shuttle landings and helped test many advanced military aircraft.
Meanwhile, flight operations at Edwards remained suspended for a period following the accident. Officials said the temporary shutdown only affected the base and did not extend to other military installations or commercial airports. The B-52 Stratofortress remains one of the most recognizable aircraft in the U.S. Air Force fleet. Boeing designed the long-range bomber to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons. The aircraft entered service in 1955 and continues to support military operations around the world.
Although the bomber typically flies with a crew of five, test missions can include additional personnel depending on mission requirements. The aircraft can reach altitudes of 50,000 feet and operates at subsonic speeds. For decades, the B-52 has served as a key component of America’s strategic bomber force.
The bomber played a major role during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and later supported missions in conflicts across the Middle East. Despite its age, the aircraft remains in active service because of ongoing upgrades and modernization efforts. This latest accident also follows another B-52-related incident from last year. A regional airline pilot flying over North Dakota made a sudden maneuver to avoid a possible midair collision with a B-52 that entered the flight path.
